LUTON TOWN 0
MIDDLESBROUGH 0
Michael Carrick hopes the point at struggling Luton Town proves to be an important one in Middlesbrough’s battle to make the play-offs.
Having been under the cosh throughout the first half as the Hatters wasted three glaring chances, the visitors came into the game more after the break, and might have snatched a late winner.
However, they were unable to find a goal as the spoils were shared.
The draw left Boro three points off the top six and a playoff place.
Important
Boro boss Carrick said: “The biggest thing I can say is that hopefully, it will prove to be an important point at the end of the season.
“Coming here with the type of game it was going to be, conditions and the pitch, it was just different types of challenges.
“It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t a classic, but there were good things in the game.
“A new back four had to deal with the extremity of the way they play and their direct long balls.
“I thought once we settled into it we dealt with it well.”
Match Action
The home side had looked so bright from kick-off.
The first big chance saw the ball cleared out as far as Liam Walsh, who dummied his man and let fly on his left foot, Boro keeper Mark Travers claiming at the second attempt before Carlton Morris could pounce.
Then the midfielder had another crack when Jordan Clark’s cross was deflected to him, opting to volley this time as it skewed wide.
Then, after eight minutes, Elijah Adebayo’s cross was deflected into the path of Thelo Aasgaard just five yards out, but he could only sky over the bar.
Izzy Jones had a pop against his former side which was always rising before Luton wasted another gilt-edged opportunity when Alfie Doughty sped away to pick out Aasgard, but with the whole goal to aim at, he put his attempt from five yards straight at Travers.
Second half
After the break, Town couldn’t maintain the momentum as the visitors were able to prevent them from having any kind of real chances on their goal for long periods.
Just after the hour mark, Finn Azaz almost made Luton pay, curling inches wide of the target.
With ten minutes remaining, Samuel Iling-Junior hammered over the top from range for the visitors, then the home side went close with substitute Lasse Nordas stabbing wide via a last-ditch deflection.
Delano Burgzorg blasted into the side-netting in stoppage time, but the draw means that, with results going against the Hatters, Matt Bloomfield’s team are now four points from safety, with Boro staying in eighth spot.
Carrick added: “I’m pleased with the attitude and the mentality, and the way we had to adapt in the game.
“We thought we could be a little bit more effective going forwards if I’m honest.
“It was difficult because the pitch was so dry and bobbly, so to create in the way we like creating was challenging.
“I thought we might have nicked it towards the end.”
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